BRITISH DRIVE TOWARD ARNHEM

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22460, 22 September 1944, Page 3

BRITISH DRIVE TOWARD ARNHEM

MAGNIFICENT WORK OF AIRBORNE TROOPS LINK UP WITH GROUND FORCES LONDON, Sept. 21. British tanks are across the Dutch Rhine at Nijmegen and are driving toward Arnhem. The Germans say they have already linked with the Allied airborne forces at Arnhem.

The traffic bridge at Nijmegen was captured intact. The Germans had drilled if extensively ready for explosive charges but the assault was so sudden and fierce that they had no opportunity to complete their work. The British attacked on the front section of the bridge while the Americans made an assault crossing and cut in behind the enemy, who were defending it viciously. So quick was the attack that the Germans had no time to demolish any part of the bridge. Tanks of the British Second Army yesterday swept round Nijmegen and reached the south bank of the Rhine only a mile or two from the German frontier.

A correspondent who landed with these airborne troops describes the drama of the forces, surrounded but undismayed, doing the task for which they were trained. On their radio sets they can hear the signals of the British tanks growing stronger as our columns push toward them. The British corridor from the Escaut Canal to Nijmegen was heavily attacked by the Germans today, but not only was the whole wedge held but its base was widened to 25 miles. All the correspondents say that the work of the Allied airborne forces was magnificent. They held tenaciously to all the positions they seized against violent German attacks. More airborne troops and supplies were sent to Holland today. Canadian forces have captured 6000 Germans in Boulogne and many more have yet to be rounded up. The Poles control practically the whole south bank of the Scheldt for 30 miles and have cut off thousands of Germans. Two strongpoints at Cap Gris Nez still held out today but the big Channel guns were silent all day.

The American First and Third Armies today met fierce German counter-attack inside the German border. In one attack they destroyed 26 German tanks. Flying bombs were sent over by the Germans. The Americans made a promising breakthrough between Nancy and Metz.